Embalming instrument



April 1941- w. H. JACQUES 2,238,563

EMBALMING INSTRUMENT Filed Jan. 24, 1939 INVENTOR. WM. H. JACQUES BYZYQQM W ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 15, 1941 William H. Jacques, Chicago,111., assignor to Anna L Jacques, Chicago,.lll.

Application January 24, 1939;,Seri'al No 252,645

V g 2 Claims. This invention relates to an improved embalminginstrument, and has special reference to aretractor device used byundertakers, embalmers, and like-persons in the art of embalming in thepreparations of bodies for preservation and burial.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provideani-nstrument, as stated above; which is particularly appropriate forembalmers" use and whereby their work may be more conveniently andspeedily accomplished; further, to provide an instrument the use ofwhich is several fold; thefirst being for holding open an incision madeby the embalmer to separate the tissues and expose the arteries of thebody to be operated upon, so that the preservatory substance may bereadily injected thereinto, itconsists of a pair of diverging arms,normally stressed apart, secured together and provided with incisionengaging means at the outer end thereof for engaging thesides of' theincision tobe retracted without obstructing the field of operation;further, to provide means whereby my instrument may also be employed tosecure itself firmly down against the surface of .the body adjacentsaid' incision and imbed end portions thereof-I within said incisionpreventing; accidental removalthereof; further; to provide an instrumentwhich willfunction and remain firmly in place upon said bodyindefinitely or until removed, without the aid of the embalmer manyother person; further, .to provide aninstrument which will simplify andexpedite the art-of embalming; and finally to produce'an instrument forthe above purposes which is simple, practical; easy to use, novel inconstruction, economical to manufacture and automatic and dependable inits application.

Other objects and advantage of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description and appended claims. v

With the above objects in view my'invention resides and consists in thenovel construction and combination of parts shown in the accompanyin-gsheet of drawings, forming, apart of this specification, upon. whichsimilar characters of reference denote like or corresponding partsthroughout the several figures, and of which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of my improved embalming instrument asit would appear in use, the same being shown secured to the edges of anincision cut in the neck of a person being embalmed, said instrumentspreading said incision and exposing the artery in said neck to beoperated upon. I

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the instrument shown in Figure 1 andillustrates its application in use for holding open an incision cut inthe thigh of a person being embalmed and exposing an artery orveintherein.

Figure 3' shows a perspective view of my improved instrument andillustrates how the embalmer grasps said instrument in one hand tocompress the arms thereof before the application of same to an incision.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the free end-portions of the armsof my improved instrument imbedded within an incision, said portionspreading the tissues and illustrating how said portions engage thesides of the incision to be retracted without obstructing the field ofoperation.

Figure 5 shows a side or edge View of one arm of my improved instrumentand a fragmentary portion of the spring coil at the inner end thereof.

Figure 6 shows a bottom view of my improved instrument with the armsinthe normal diverged position; dotted lines showing position of saidarmswhen compressed.

Figure '7 shows a perspective view of the instrument shown in Figure 6,said view showing the sharpened needles secured in the outer free endportions of said instrument as seen from a plane below that of saidarms.

My instrument, as will be seen in the bottom plan view in Figure 6, issubstantially U shaped or horseshoe shaped, consisting of a pair ofmetallic bowed arms [0 and H and preferably constructed of wire of roundcross-section, said arms normally tending to spring apart and away fromeach other at thefree ends. The arms Ill and H are formed from a singlepiece of wire the intermediate portion of which is formed into a coiliiof substantially circular outline, said coil positioned between and insubstantially the same plane'as arms l0 and H, thus forming a smoothouter unobstructed converging angle 14 between the-arms, thus fittingsnugly in the hand of the emba lmerduring application of the same to thebody as shown in Figure 3.

The outer free ends l5 and N5 of said arms have positioned or formedthereon suitably shaped plates 11 and 18, said plates to be securedthereon by soldering, welding or by any known desired method. The outerend portions l9 and 20 of said plates are formed downwardly, as isclearly shown in Figures 5 and '7, to pro-l vide incision engaging meansand to also form support members for tissue piercing members 2I and 22sharpened at their outer ends as needle points. The plates I! and I8also form suitable thumb and finger grips as shown in Figure 3, as Wellas surface pressure plates as shown in Figure 2.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be apparent from theforegoing and following description. After the incision 25 has been madein the neck 26, or incision 21 in the leg 23, the embalming instrumentor retractor is grasped in either hand by the embalmer, the normallydiverging arms II] and I I are then pressed together, the end portionsI9 and pressed downwardly into said incision between the opposite edgesthereof so that the points 2I and 22 will pierce the tissues therein andadjacent thereto. Upon releasing the pressure on the spring type arms,the opposite edges of the incision and the tissues engaged therein willspread and the artery or vein to be operated upon is exposed for theembalmer to operate thereon.

In the use of the instrument just described, the spread or degree towhich the incision and tissues will be spread is substantiallycontrolled by the length of the incision, the expansive action of thecoil I2, and by the size of the retractor; various size retractors canbe obtained for various size incisions or operations, however one sizeis usually sufficient for the average embalming operation. Owing to theshape and curvature of this novel retractor, the arms I and II as wellas the coil I4 will lie snugly against the neck or body in such a mannerthat the embalmer can have free access to the vein or artery exposed,said retractor being secured to the body by said piercing members 2I and22 without obstructing the field of operation and thus allowing theembalmer to use both his hands for performing the operation, as neitherhand is needed to hold said retractor in place, said piercing members 2|and 22 preventing dislodgment or slipping of members I9 and 20 out ofthe incision.

Upon successful completion of the operation, the arms I0 and I I areagain moved towards each other so that the points 2| and 22 will slipout of the flesh tissues, allowing members I9 and 20 to slip out of theincision and thus allowing said incision to close or be closed and.sealed.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and manner ofuse of my improved retractor will be fully understood. The instrumentmay also be very easily and quickly manipulated and properly inserted inposition. As the device comprises only few primary elements it willfurther be seen that the instrument can be manufactured at very smallcost and is also extremely durable and efi'icient in practical use.

While in the drawing and in the above description I have shown anddescribed but one form of retractor, this being the preferredconstruction and arrangement of the various parts, it will be understoodthat the device is susceptible of considerable modification withoutdeparting from the essential feature or sacrificing any of theadvantages of my invention. 1 The invention therefore,

20 are inserted and is to be limited merely by the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent, is:

1. An embalming retractor comprising two arms normally resilientlydiverging with end portions bowed inwardly and downwardly whereby theretractor is formedon an are, a resilient loop disposed intermediatesaid arms from which the arms diverge, a surface plate having auniplaner section secured at the outer extremity of each arm andarranged substantially in the same plane, the outer end portions of theuniplaner section of said plates being directed inwardly toward each'other; an incision engaging member projecting from said outer portion,said member being disposed downwardly with respect to the uniplanersection and from the same side of the arms, aneedle shaped tissueengaging prong carried by the under surface of said member; said prongdisposed downwardly and outwardly with respect to its supporting surfaceforming an angle with the uniplaner surface plate whereby when theretractor prongs are positioned within, the incision in the body of adead personbeing embalmed, the arms and plates of said retractor will besupported and caused to liesnugly against the surface of the bodyadjacent said incision, thereby leaving said incision unobstructed andwith said prongs piercing the flesh and imbedding themselves within theincision tending to draw said surface plates into tighter contact withsaid body and preventing accidental dislodgment of said retractor. 2. Aunitary embalming retractor structure comprising two arms normallyresiliently diverging with end portionsbowed inwardly and downwardlywhereby the retractor is formed on an are, a resilient loop disposedintermediate said arms from which the arms diverge, a surface platehaving a uniplaner section permanently fixed at the outer extremity ofeach arm and arranged substantially in the same plane, the outer endportions of the uniplaner section of said plates being directed inwardlytoward each other; an incision engaging member projecting from saidouter portion, said member being disposed downwardly with respect to theuniplaner section and from the same side of the arms, a single needleshaped tissue piercing prong permanently carried by the under surface ofsaid member, said prong disposed at an angle downwardly and outwardlywith respect to its supporting surface forming an angle with theuniplaner surface whereby when the retractor prongs are positionedwithin the incision in the body of a dead person being embalmed the armsand plates of said retractor will be supported and caused to lie snuglyagainst the surface of the body adjacent said incision, thereby leavingsaid'incision unobstructed and with said prongs piercing the flesh andimbedding themselves within the incision tending to draw said surfaceplates into tighter contact with said body and preventing accidentaldislodgment of said retractor. H. JACQUES.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,258,565. April 15, 191 1,

WILLIAM H. JACQUES It is hereby certified that the above numbered patentwas erroneously issued to Anna J. Jacques, as assigneeof the entireinterest therein, whereas said patent should have been is sued to theinventor, William H.

Jacques, and Anna J. Jacques as assignee bfone-half interest only in"said invention, as shown by the record of assigrntents in this office;and

that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the case in the PatentOffice. Signed and sealed this 5rd day of June, A. -43. 19in.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

